When to Walk Away: A Designer’s Journey to Opening New Doors
Let’s get real—knowing when to leave a job can feel like standing on the edge of a cliff. Fashion is all about reinvention and taking risks, but how do you know when it’s time to close one chapter and step into the unknown? A job should be more than just a pay check. It should push you, inspire you, and yes, even frustrate you. It should be a relationship where your effort, ideas, and dedication are met with appreciation and growth opportunities. Looking back on past experiences, I’ve realised just how valuable it is to be in a role that truly fosters growth and respects what I bring to the table but when that relationship starts feeling one-sided, you have to face the uncomfortable truth and ask, Is this really where I’m meant to be?
Believe me, I know that gut-wrenching realisation. We’ve all been there—staying in roles that feel comfortable but, let’s be honest, start to suffocate your creativity. You will think, Why leave when it’s safe? You will tell yourself, “You’re lucky. You’re doing well. Stick it out.” But what happens when safety starts to feel more like a cage? What happens when you’re no longer moving forward but holding yourself back, shrinking into a version of yourself that plays it small? Because here’s the thing: the longer you stay in a place that doesn’t push you, the more you lose sight of what you’re truly capable of.
Let me be vulnerable for a second—RIP to all the opportunities I let slip by because of fear and low self-esteem. I spent way too long downsizing my ambition, ignoring that voice inside that said, You’re meant for more. I didn’t celebrate my accomplishments because it never felt like enough. I thought if I worked harder, stayed longer, maybe then I’d finally feel like I deserved the praise. But that’s the trap, isn’t it? It’s the lie we tell ourselves, that staying put is safer than reaching out for something greater.
And listen, admitting that it’s time to go? That’s hard. You worry about the judgment—friends, colleagues, even family telling you, “Why would you leave? You’ve got it so good!” But the truth is, if your job isn’t challenging you, it’s not holding you steady—it’s pulling you backward. Fashion, for all its glamour and reinvention, is brutally competitive. If you’re not pushing yourself, evolving, and taking risks, you’ll get left behind faster than last season’s trends.
I was in a role where I felt myself shrinking. I’d brought my ideas, my energy, but the brand wasn’t listening. I’d said it over and over: I need more. More room to grow, more creative space. But my words felt like they were bouncing off walls. And then, when the right opportunity came along at a different company, suddenly, my current employer woke up. They offered me everything I’d been asking for—but it was too late. I’d already realized my worth, and I knew I needed to walk through that new door.
Here’s what I learned: staying in a role that no longer serves you isn’t stability; it’s comfort disguised as safety. Walking away isn’t failure; it’s choosing growth. And the uncomfortable truth? The biggest competition you’ll ever face is the version of yourself that settles. Every time I took that nerve-wracking step away from a role that had run its course, I found something better waiting on the other side. Discomfort became my fuel. It’s where the magic of real work lives, where you push yourself and create things you didn’t know you were capable of.
And to those designers sitting in roles that feel “good enough,” wondering why your passion has dulled—ask yourself, What do I really deserve? You deserve to be in a place that values your vision, a place that invests in you as much as you invest in it. If your job isn’t giving you that, then maybe it’s time to face the fear and step into the unknown. Yes, it’s terrifying. Yes, people will say you’re taking a risk. But the world beyond your comfort zone? That’s where you find out what you’re really made of.
Be proud of what you’ve done so far, but don’t let it be the reason you stay stuck. Growth isn’t just an option in fashion; it’s a necessity. And sometimes, that means leaving behind the familiar and walking through a door you weren’t even sure you were ready for. Because when you get comfortable being uncomfortable, that’s when you become truly unstoppable. Trust me, it’s worth every moment of doubt and every ounce of fear. Go find what you deserve.
